1 Paul, an apostle of Christ
Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are
faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in
Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless
before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children
through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to
the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the
Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he
lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us
the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set
forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all
things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we
have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the
purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and
will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might
live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in
him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is
the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to
the praise of his glory.
15 I have heard of your faith
in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this
reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my
prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to
know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may
know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of
his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the
immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the
working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when
he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and
dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but
also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and
has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
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